Restorative justice is the law

by Dan Van Ness

Heartspeak Productions is a remarkable Canadian group that describes itself as "on a continual quest to learn about & share the principles and best practices of restorative justice." It does this by creating excellent videos exploring dimensions of restoration. Fraser Community Justice Initiatives Association is a community NGO also in Canada that for 25 years has developed programs and training that help people in conflict find good resolutions.

Sep 04, 2012 Human Rights, Court, Government, Support, Video Review, Policy, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:Canada, Politics, Conceptual

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David Daubney of Canada presented the 2011 International Prize for Restorative Justice

by Dan Van Ness

David Daubney has been awarded the 2011 International Prize for Restorative Justice in recognition of the public policy leadership he has provided in support of restorative justice. The presentation was made during the Prison Fellowship International World Convocation held in Toronto, Canada from 28 June – 2 July, 2011.

"For restorative justice to become the normal way of responding to crime, we need more than programs," said Daniel Van Ness, executive director of PFI's Centre for Justice and Reconciliation. "We also need public policy that reflects restorative principles and values so that the justice system itself becomes more restorative. With this award we recognize a man who as a legislator and an official in his country's justice ministry has helped shape restorative justice public policy in his nation and the world." 

Jul 04, 2011 Court, Government, Correspondent:Dan Van Ness, Legislation, Policy, Region: North America and Caribbean, Country:Canada, Politics

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Tougher legislation needed on hate crimes

from Kristopher Wells and Murray Billett's article in the Edmonton Journal:

....Here in Canada, the gravity of hate crimes was officially recognized in 1970, when the government amended the Criminal Code to include hate propaganda as a punishable offence.
In 1996, the government also introduced enhanced sentencing provisions for offences motivated by hate, and in 2001 included mischief to religious property as a specific hate-motivated offence.

Despite this evolution, we argue that these legislative responses to hate have not gone far enough. The problem most concerning to many diverse communities and law enforcement officials involves the fact that there are still no direct provisions in the Criminal Code to identify hate crime as a violent offence (such as assault) or as a crime against a person or individual property (such as vandalism).

May 21, 2010 Country:Canada, Government, Legislation, Region: North America and Caribbean, Case:Hate Crime

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